Through a post in the social media, Gonxhja highlighted that, “Built through extensive collaboration, the strategy incorporates insights from over 100 professionals, 50 expert meetings, and roughly 600 Delphi questionnaires.”

According to the minister, the document brings a new approach to the development of art, culture and cultural heritage, providing for legal reforms and a series of support measures for the sector.

According to Gonxhja, the strategy aims to establish artist status, boost support for creators and independent groups, pay traditional culture keepers, and speed up the digital shift for museums and archives.

At the same time, the document considers culture as an important factor for the economic, social and tourist development of the country, with the objective of increasing investments in this sector to 1–1.2% of Gross Domestic Product by 2030.

According to Gonxhja, implementation of the National Strategy for Culture 2026–2030 aims to consolidate Albania as an important cultural center in the Western Balkans and as an active actor in the European cultural space. /e.i/a.f/r.e/p.s./

Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro said the strategy would focus on improving the quality, inclusiveness and innovation of Albania’s education system while ensuring equal opportunities for children regardless of their social or geographic background.

“The strategy we are launching today will place students at the centre, with the clear goal of consolidating an inclusive, high-quality and future-oriented education system,” Kumbaro said.

She said the drafting process would involve broad consultations with students, teachers, school administrators, universities, civil society organisations and international partners.

Kumbaro also called on parents to take an active role in the consultations, describing families as key partners in the education system.

Education Minister said work on the new strategy would run alongside ongoing reforms, including teacher training programmes, digitalisation initiatives, investments in school infrastructure, quality assurance measures and efforts to improve student well-being.

The National Pre-University Education Strategy 2027-2031, supported by UNICEF, is intended to align Albania’s education system more closely with European standards and promote a more inclusive, innovative and equitable learning environment.

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In a post on social networks, Lamallari emphasized that the strategy aims to build a stronger mechanism for the protection of citizens, strengthening the rule of law and advancing the European integration process.

According to him, the new approach will be based on prevention, intelligence, financial investigations and national and international cooperation.

“Only through dialogue and cooperation can we draft more effective policies that are closer to the needs of the country,” said Lamallari.

The Interior Minister underlined that the fight against organized crime requires a long-term vision, close institutional cooperation and the involvement of all actors in society.

He thanked institutions, experts, international partners, civil society and the media for their contributions and suggestions given in the consultation process. /gj.m/a.f/r.e/p.s./

Through the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy 2026-2030, the aim is to promote the efficient development of the government securities market.

According to Minister Malaj, this strategy focuses on: restructuring debt for longer periods, especially domestic debt; further reducing exposure to exchange rate risk and sustainable management of public debt.

Malaj said that the strategy aims to strengthen financial stability and improve debt management in the near future.

Albania’s public debt is expected to follow a downward trajectory during 2026, falling to around 53.6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the 2026 budget, approved by the Government and then by the Parliament.

The Ministry of Finance predicts that public debt will be 54.1% at the end of 2025.

In terms of borrowing, the government expects to secure 45 billion lekë in the domestic market, mainly through long-term debt securities, aiming to reduce risks and at the same time meet the preferences of domestic investors.

In the external market, new borrowing will be oriented towards financing priority projects and budget support, with a total value of around 47 billion lekë, while net borrowing will remain at around 10.3 billion lekë after including repayments. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

At the open forum for the future of culture in Albania, held today at HangArt – Kinostudio, artists, professionals and representatives of institutions in the country shared ideas and visions for the cultural development of the country.

“Today, we mark the beginning of a new path for the country’s cultural policy, the official launch of work on the National Culture Strategy 2026–2030, a comprehensive process that will build the common vision for the Albanian culture of the future, based on the strong track that we have started to build in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports”, stated Minister Gonxhja at the forum.

The minister appreciated that culture is a creative, economic and diplomatic power, which elevates our identity and positions Albania as a center of creativity in the region.

In collaboration with the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS) and the Santagata Foundation, the new strategy aims to strengthen cultural institutions; support artists and the independent scene; invest in cultural infrastructure and national heritage; and create dignified conditions for art as a profession and sustainable source of livelihood. /j.p/p.s./

The meeting was held Thursday in cooperation with international partners, including the United Nations (UN), FAO, ILO, ITU, and relevant Albanian ministries such as the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and the Ministry of Finance.

Minister Denaj stated that, with support from the DART project, Albania is redesigning the Farmer’s Portal into a more integrated digital system and placing a greater focus on digital skills for youth.

“This new digital system aims to increase transparency, boost production efficiency, lower costs, and introduce innovation into the agricultural sector,” Denaj said.

“This programme is transforming how we think about agriculture and rural development. We are not only investing in technology, but in people—farmers, youth, and public servants—who will lead Albania’s digital transition in line with the vision of Agriculture 2030,” said Minister Denaj.

She added that this year, the DART program will combine fieldwork with regional agricultural offices and farmers to achieve the desired impact.

Jointly implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, the DART programme supports the development of digital tools, services, and skills to improve agricultural productivity, service delivery, and rural employment opportunities—particularly in line with EU integration goals.

On her part, Ms. Randi Davis, Acting UN Resident Coordinator said that, “The digital transformation of rural Albania requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort. Through this Joint Programme, we are aligning UN expertise with national ambition to ensure no farmer is left behind”.

“To succeed, we need co-designed solutions that are evidence-based and accessible,” added Ms. Lorena Pullumbi, Assistant FAO Representative in Albania. “We welcome stronger engagement from institutions such as the Agricultural University of Tirana, municipalities, and local advisory services and look forward to reinforcing dialogue with the EU Delegation, whose role is key in anchoring this work within Albania’s EU accession framework.”

Further on, FAO’s Dr. Francelino Rodrigues and National Project Coordinator Ms. Arsita Mati shared technical updates and acknowledged the role of national institutions like SASPAC, ARDA, and the Agency for Excellence and Innovation in driving implementation at both national and local levels.

The “Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation” (DART) is a three-year (2024–2027) programme funded by the Joint SDG Fund’s Digital Transformation Window through contributions from the European Union, Sweden, and Spain. Led by FAO with ILO, ITU, and Albania’s Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, it aims to develop a national digital agriculture strategy aligned with EU standards, enhance digital public services via the Albanian Farmers’ Portal, and build digital capacities among small-scale farmers, students, vocational schools, and public sector employees.

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Minister Gonxhja appreciated it as an important moment to share with the creative industries community our policy for the future, focusing on transparency, improving professional standards and promoting international cooperation.

During the meeting, together with representatives of the Cinematography Center and international experts invited by the British Council, there were presented the main points of the new strategy for audiovisual sector, built on the needs and potential of the domestic and international market, the new application regulation at the National Center of Cinematography, which aims to simplify procedures and create more space for quality projects, as well as the concrete opportunities offered by the Media Desk of Creative Europe for the inclusion of Albanian filmmakers in European networks and co-productions.

“Through a comprehensive approach and sustainable partnerships, we can build a strong ecosystem for audiovisual creativity in Albania, a sector that not only represents our cultural identity, but also has real potential for economic development and cultural diplomacy,” said Minister Gonxhja. /r.e/p.s./

The strategy, developed by the special Parliamentary Commission and a team of experts, calls for the creation of a regulatory authority to oversee implementation and ensure alignment with EU and NATO standards.

Citing growing threats to democratic processes and public trust, the Socialist lawmaker said modern threats – such as foreign influence in elections and public discourse -require coordinated institutional action.

He emphasized Albania’s strategic position and political alignment with the West, saying these make the country a target for hostile influence operations.

Socialist MP described the initiative as part of a broader effort to defend transparency and democratic stability against non-military threats.

“Disinformation is not just propaganda – it is a strategic weapon,” Braçe said, urging national unity in defending transparency and democratic integrity.

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Committee Chair Erion Braçe said disinformation had become an urgent global threat to democratic societies, describing the phenomenon as a key tool used by hostile state and non-state actors to manipulate public opinion and undermine institutions.

“This strategy is a direct response to the challenges posed by foreign information manipulation and interference, amplified by the global spread of digital technologies and social media,” Braçe said during the Committee’s final session of the legislative term.

He cited the impact of disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, warning that Albania, as a NATO member and EU candidate, is not immune to such threats.

The new strategy sets out coordinated measures to improve institutional resilience, protect citizens, and strengthen legal, diplomatic, and social tools to counter hybrid threats. It also envisions close cooperation with NATO and the EU, including information-sharing, capacity-building, and coordinated responses to hostile influence campaigns.

Lawmaker Braçe emphasized the role of independent media in defending public access to accurate information and welcomed support from strategic partners such as the United States and key EU countries, which have backed journalist training, fact-checking networks, and cyber capacity-building.

The strategy also provides for the creation of an inter-institutional coordination body to oversee implementation in partnership with Parliament.

“This is Albania’s first comprehensive document addressing foreign information manipulation. It clearly signals our commitment to join the global fight against disinformation,” Braçe said.

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During presentation of this draft strategy, Braçe appreciated that it aims to strengthen institutional and legal capacities to prevent and combat foreign interference that may affect democratic processes, political stability and national security, the economy and critical infrastructure of Albania, especially in its strategic sectors.

“Albania, as a candidate country for EU membership and a NATO member, is not immune to these forms of interference,” he added.

Braçe emphasized that the National Strategy establishes the fight against foreign interference and disinformation as a national strategic priority and clearly defines measures for building institutional and social stability.

Cybersecurity, according to him, “has become a key component of national and international security.”

Braçe underlined that Albania has faced a series of sophisticated cyberattacks since 2022, which have targeted the digital infrastructure of state institutions and critical entities.

“In the first attack, Iranian state actors were identified. Groups linked to Iranian interests took responsibility for this action and published stolen data, aiming to undermine public opinion’s trust in Constitutional institutions. These events have shown that Albania is a continuous target of cyberattacks with clear political and geostrategic motivation, thus emphasizing the importance of strengthening defense capacities and cooperation with international partners,” said Braçe.

The work on drafting the strategy has gone through several phases, while Braçe highlighted the detailed analysis of the current situation of foreign interference and disinformation in Albania. /j.p/p.s./